Author Topic: PRS vs BKP (advice) (Read 12986 times)

sufjanav · « **on:** June 28, 2008, 10:04:55 AM »

Hi guys I think this is my first topic here, I mainly just lurk but this place is full of knowledgeable people so I hoped to get some advice.

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice and comparisons regarding BKP vs PRS pups.

I am not looking for which is "better", but simply a comparisons between which PRS pups are similar - in sound, output, whatever - to BKPs. I own 3 PRSi now, and the sets of pups I have are #6, Dragon IIs, and VB/HFS. I like them all to be perfectly honest though I am starting to think the Dragon IIs aren't hot enough for my tastes. I really like the HFS. How does the HFS stack up vs BKPs in terms of output? Any other advice, observations, or comparisons are wholly welcome.

Thanks a lot

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2008, 12:35:38 PM »

I have had PRS Dragon I's, HFS/VB, original Treble(T) and Artist II's. Compared to BK's, all of them have a 'closed' sound, where the dynamics of the strings don't come through. Also as you turn the volume down on PRS's, the tone goes off and becomes more bassy. With BK's, all the pickups remain very open as the volume is turned down. In fact this was one of the first things I noticed when I got BK's for the first time. I have currently got a Crawler & 2 P-91's in my EG4, a Rebel Yell set in my Standard 24 and an AIV Mule set in my Artist II.

The Crawler will cover all the HFS territory, and a lot more. It is a hot PAF on steroids, but can clean up beautifully. The Dragons have a ceramic bridge and alnico neck, which would be like the Cold Sweat and Miracle Man sets, though I actually like the Rebel Yell set as a replacement.

I did have VHII's in my Artist for a while, and they are great pickups but I wanted a bit more bluesy sound and went for the Mules. You don't mention what style of music you play, but the VHII is very versatile, covering everything from metal to classic rock.

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2008, 02:38:17 PM »

I can't really comment on the PRS vs BKP question, as I have only limited experience of PRS pickups. And they are very reticent with details about the pickup specs, I don't even know what magnets they use, so it's hard to compare even "on paper".

I do find that both the McCarty and Mira pickups sound a bit woolly in the bridge position - I like the output and general tone, but I might wish for a little more tightness and presence.

It may be partly because the PRS guitars are so extremely warm and resonant compared to most of the Gibsons I've owned.

viking · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2008, 04:29:35 PM »

I was very frustrated by the Dragon2 in my Cu22,although it was very good for the "in-between"sounds.Unplugged,i could hear all the beautiful overtones and harmonics...So,i bought some BKP Mules.PhilKing described it very well:"Compared to BK's, all of them have a 'closed' sound, where the dynamics of the strings don't come through."Exactly so.The Mules reproduce the acoustic sound much more accurately.The differences with the volume and tone controls (><PRS) are stunning.The articulation and definition,esp. the bass strings, is also noticeable.I just bought a Standard24 and it has a VB/neck.Very powerful pu but,again,the tone control is almost unusable.Btw,i still have the Dragon2 and i heard many guys saying it's much better in the Standard.Do you know if this is true?

FiXXXeR · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2008, 12:34:38 AM »

i use VHIIs in my CU22, it basically open the guitar up a little more, realy bring out the dynamics alot more.

in a nut shell get BKP for your PRS.

it would have to be a mule set or VHIIs though!!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2008, 01:33:34 AM »

Going back to what I said before, I don't want to over-state the case - I think the PRS pickups are well-chosen to give a nice range of tones in the bridge, neck and combined positions. The coil-splits are very effective too.

So I'm in no rush to change mine, but I would like to hear how much difference the BKPs would make.

Quote from: FiXXXeR

it would have to be a mule set or VHIIs though!!!

Yeah, I'd certainly be considering VHIIs or an AV/AIV Mule set. Plus maybe a Riff Raff bridge for the Mira, with either a Mule or (AIV?) Stormy Monday neck. Keep it vintage(ish)!

PhilKing · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2008, 01:47:38 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Going back to what I said before, I don't want to over-state the case - I think the PRS pickups are well-chosen to give a nice range of tones in the bridge, neck and combined positions. The coil-splits are very effective too.

Hi Philly, if you change to BK's you will be amazed how much better the splits are, they are very Fender like. The Mules, VHII's an Rebel Yells all work really well with the 5 way switch (but you do need to tell Tim that you will be using one, as the magnet in one pickup has to be reversed).

I have yet to try a Mira, though I am getting very tempted, but I have already bought several guitars and amps this year, and have some more on the way, so it will probably be a next year purchase. However since the Mira is all mahogany, I am guessing that it will sound a bit like my 1990 Standard 24, but wil more sustain due to the hardtail. If that is the case, then I would seriously look at a RY set for it, or perhaps an A5 mule bridge with either an A4 Mule or Stormy Monday neck, depending on what you want to play.

I had thought that the PRS pickups sounded good (especially the older ones), until I put a set of BK's in to replace them.

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2008, 05:09:31 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

Hi Philly, if you change to BK's you will be amazed how much better the splits are, they are very Fender like. The Mules, VHII's an Rebel Yells all work really well with the 5 way switch (but you do need to tell Tim that you will be using one, as the magnet in one pickup has to be reversed).

Cheers Phil, food for thought! :) Noted about the magnets - the McCarty and Mira both have conventional wiring with 3-way switches and a coil-split (non hum-cancelling in the middle position), but I'm thinking of changing the Mira over to a 5-way superswitch so I'd need the flipped magnet to keep everything hum-cancelling, I think.

Quote

However since the Mira is all mahogany, I am guessing that it will sound a bit like my 1990 Standard 24, but wil more sustain due to the hardtail. If that is the case, then I would seriously look at a RY set for it, or perhaps an A5 mule bridge with either an A4 Mule or Stormy Monday neck, depending on what you want to play.

The Mira is, basically, an SG but it sounds a little darker and woodier than any of my SGs - the body is a tiny bit thicker and, of course, very resonant.

If I do go for BKPs, I find the RY a little too hot for my current tastes so it's out of the reckoning. For the Mira, the AV/AIV Mule combo is highly tempting, or maybe a Riff Raff and Mule. For the (korina) McCarty, I'd really like to give VHIIs a go, maybe again with a Mule neck. But no rush, time will tell...

(Sorry sufjanav, I've hijacked your thread... :oops: )

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2008, 07:38:28 PM »

Leave the Mira alone Philly - the pickups in them are superb!

Philly Q · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2008, 08:02:10 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

Leave the Mira alone Philly - the pickups in them are superb!

Quote from: PhilKing

I had thought that the PRS pickups sounded good (especially the older ones), until I put a set of BK's in to replace them.

There's only one sensible way to settle this, gentlemen....

FIGHT!!!!!! :twisted:

PhilKing · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2008, 10:06:52 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: Twinfan
Leave the Mira alone Philly - the pickups in them are superb!

Quote from: PhilKing
I had thought that the PRS pickups sounded good (especially the older ones), until I put a set of BK's in to replace them.

There's only one sensible way to settle this, gentlemen....

FIGHT!!!!!! :twisted:

Soggy Woodbines at 20 paces it is then :shock:

Though I have to say that unless you try BK's in a PRS it is hard to see how they will improve the sound. Except in my case, with the Artist II, I was loving the acoustic sound of the guitar, but not the plugged in sound, so trying BK's was easy. I haven't heard the Mira, but would be surprised if the pickups are in the same league as BK's, having heard lots of newer PRS pckups. I guess until someone changes pickups on a Mira, there will be no definate answer, but on other PRS's, BK's make a huge difference.

Philly Q · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2008, 10:27:40 PM »

Well, when I've finished my current project of "streamlining" my guitar collection a bit ( :roll: ), I'm going to buy a few more BKPs. So I may do a bit of experimenting, even if I don't get new pickups specifically for the PRS guitars.

I must admit PRS guitars have a bit of an "aura" about them which makes me reluctant to change them - they're in a different league compared with my other guitars. It's so much easier with a Gibson loaded with a 498T/490R set - straight away you think "well they've gotta go!"

Twinfan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2008, 11:15:45 PM »

You should try a Mira or an SC245 out Phil - they have the same pickups and they really are good :)

WezV · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2008, 11:21:48 PM »

hold on a second. philly q and twinfan both have mira's... and they also both have many sets of BKP's.

Dont start a fight, just get the bloody soldering iron out!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2008, 01:33:41 AM »

Quote from: WezV

hold on a second. philly q and twinfan both have mira's... and they also both have many sets of BKP's.

Dont start a fight, just get the bloody soldering iron out!!

Well, the only BKPs I have that I'd be interested in trying in the Mira are the Riff Raff, SM neck and maybe the Black Dog (though I doubt the latter would suit). I need some Mules and VHIIs!